This could be the last season for Second Region basketball as we know it

Kevin Patton

3:00 AM, Nov 25, 2012

HENDERSON, Ky. - Changes are looming, and this could be the last season for the Second Region as we know it.

The opening of McCracken County next fall, which will fold three schools (Heath, Lone Oak and Reidland) into one will reduce the number of schools in the First Region to 14.

It's possible two Second Region teams (probably Livingston Central and Lyon County) will move into the First Region. The Second Region currently has 15 teams so if the KHSAA wants to maintain 16 teams per region, three schools could shift into the Second, possibly McLean County and Muhlenberg County from the Third and Todd Central from the Fourth.

The KHSAA may have different plans entirely but there's little doubt that changes are coming.

What won't change this season is the list of usual contenders in the Second Region. Henderson County expects to be in the middle of both the boys and girls races.

The Colonels haven't won a region title since 1999 but expect to be in contention as always. A grueling schedule that includes numerous Saturday shootouts could help prepare the team.

"This is one of the toughest schedules Henderson County has played," said coach Tyler Smithhart, who inherited the schedule from previous coach Mark Starns. The Colonels will tangle with many of the regional favorites from across the state — Apollo from the Third, Bowling Green and Warren Central from the Fourth, John Hardin and Elizabethtown from the Fifth and Collins from the Eighth.

"It will help us in the end, but we're going to take some bumps along the way," Smithhart said.

The Colonels will have only 10 home games and only three before February. "I do hate it for our fans. I wish they could be seen more because this is going to be a fun team to watch," Smithhart said.

Henderson County will certainly be road-tested by the time the postseason rolls around. Hopkinsville returns four starters from its regional championship team and will play the regional on its home floor. Look for Christian County, Union County, University Heights and Madisonville to be in the mix.

Hopkinsville also won the girls region title last year and does have three starters back but also has a new coach. Livingston Central returns four starters from the region runner-up team and has a height advantage over most of the region.

Henderson County coach Jeff Haile expects Christian County, which had a pair of transfers from a team that was 14-14, to be the best team in the region.

Though putting a young squad on floor, Henderson County could be good enough to get back to Diddle Arena for the first time since 2010.